Our Picks This Month

Shrubs and Color:

Warm weather is here! Give your garden the color it’s been craving with these nursery favorites...

Sunbelievable 'Brown-Eyed Girl' Helianthus

Up the "wow" factor in your yard this summer with this stunning new sunflower from Monrovia! Sunbelievable is the first sunflower plant to bloom continuously from spring to first frost. A seedless variety, it puts all its energy into flowering. Expect wave after wave of vibrant yellow flowers - up to 1,000 blooms over the course of the growing season.

Impatiens

These charming flowers are popular both in professional landscaping and home gardens, and for good reason! Wonderful for softening hard lines and adding quick color, Impatiens also happen to be one of the few high-impact color plants that truly thrive in shade. Tuck some into a shady corner or window box and watch them go!

Osteospermum

Commonly known as African Daisy or Cape Daisy, this carefree plant is a common sight along the sides of Bay Area freeways. Its durability and ability to thrive in low-water conditions also make it a star in the garden. With a wide variety of blooms and colors to choose from, bring home an Osteospermum (or three) today!

Osmanthus

Long cherished in Chinese culture as both a medicine and an auspicious symbol, we can't get enough of Osmanthus! Glossy evergreen leaves and deliciously fragrant blooms are just a couple reasons this shrub deserves a place in your yard. We currently have several varieties to choose from, including the prized 'aurantiacus' with its orange flowers.

Edibles:

It's veggie season, and we've got what you need to plant your best vegetable garden ever! Here are a few nursery favorites to get you started...

Tomatoes

'Carmello' - A French market favorite due to its hardy, indeterminate growth habit, thin, crack-resistant skin, and luscious, pure tomato flavor.

'Hillbilly' - Excellent for home gardens, this West Virginia heirloom dazzles with bi-colored skin and flesh and sweet, low-acid flavor.

Peppers

'Padron' - Beloved at farmer's markets, this mostly-mild, small-fruited pepper is similar to the Shishito, but with a uniquely Spanish flair. Delicious sautéed in olive oil, dusted with salt, and served tapas-style!

'Anaheim' - Even people who don't like heat can usually tolerate the mild kick of this family-friendly chile. Excellent stuffed or in salsa, or use in any recipe calling for a bell pepper.

Cucumbers

'Armenian' - Never bitter, always delicious, these cucumbers are worth a try if you're looking for something not available in stores. When sliced, they give off a fragrance similar to cantaloupe!

'Green Finger'- These 4" delicacies are crisp and non-bitter, with a small seed cavity and exceptional taste. The more you pick, the more they grow, so don't be shy about snacking on them!

Squash

'Magda' - A Middle Eastern or Mediterranean type with an incredibly rich, nutty flavor, creamy green skin, and a pure white interior. Delicious plain or sprinkled with a bit of salt.

'Tromboncino' - Light green fruits grow long, curving to a bell at one end. Vining plants can be grown on a trellis. Harvest at 8-10 in. long when the flavor is fine and sweet.

Eggplant

'Fairy Tale' - There's more to this dreamy, pixie-sized eggplant than just its good looks! It's also incredibly fruitful and resilient, with delicious flavor and a creamy bite.

'Millionaire' - This exquisite Japanese variety produces extraordinary harvest of delicious fruit with a minimal seed cavity. Extra-early maturity and high productivity are a winner every time!

Herbs

'Tulsi/Holy Basil' - This incredible herb has long been revered for its intriguing flavor, medicinal qualities, and spiritual significance. Enjoy as a tea, or steep in honey to enhance its benefits.

Assorted Mint - Make your summer cocktails and salsas a little less predictable by switching out your standard mint. Orange mint, chocolate mint, pineapple mint, apple mint- the possibilities are endless!

A Gift For Mom

Mother's Day Garden Gift Ideas:

• Decorative Stepping Stones
• Pet Mom Accessories
• Teacup Bird Feeders
• Garden Gazing Orbs
• Mosaic Garden Side Tables
• Windchimes
• Suncatchers
• Tabletop Statuettes - Angels, Gnomes, Zen Animals
• Butterfly Wall Hangings

A Rose By Any Other Name...

This Mother's Day, don't just give Mom a dozen roses; give her dozens of roses for years to come! This Mother's Day Weekend, take advantage of our sale on Roses! Take 30% off all roses in plastic containers, 50% off paper pot roses. It's the perfect time to pick up the perfect rose for Mom! Need help deciding? Here's a peek at some of the roses currently in stock at the nursery...

Burned Out On Roundup? Try Burnout!

Since it hit the agricultural scene in the 1970s, Roundup has been the definitive weed killer on the market. Originally developed for commercial use, home gardeners with nowhere else to turn were forced to use Roundup as well.

There is growing consensus that Roundup's "scorched-earth" policy is overkill in a home vegetable or flower garden. Glyphosate, Roundup's main ingredient, does not discriminate when it comes to killing plants, which means flowers and vegetables have the potential to be taken out along with weeds.

Fortunately, there is now an alternative to Roundup that's better for your health, and your plants. Meet Burnout! Made from a mixture of clove oil, vinegar, and lemon juices, Burnout is a natural, organic weed killer that degrades quickly, meaning it won't move through the soil to injure nearby plants. It's also safe for children and animals, making it a winner for moms and pet moms alike!

You can find Burnout in the Plant Pharmacy section of the nursery. For best results, apply on warm, dry days. Mature plants may require multiple applications, but smaller weeds are usually killed within 8 hours.

When it comes to killing weeds, it can be tempting to want an extreme and immediate solution. Resist! Your garden - and the planet - will thank you.

Featured Recipe
French Strawberry Cake

Get ready for summer with a delicious dessert featuring one of this month's shining stars: strawberries! This cake is easy to make, and even easier to enjoy. Get ready for a trip to strawberry heaven…

*This recipe is staff-tested and whole-heartedly approved!

Ingredients:

• 1 stick salted butter
• 1 1/4 cups sugar, divided
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 6 oz plain Greek yogurt
• 2 1/2 cups fresh strawberries, chopped, divided

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Add 1 cup sugar and stick of butter to a large mixing bowl or stand mixer.
3. Cream together.
4. Add eggs one at a time. Continue to mix until incorporated.
5. Add vanilla and mix well.
6. In a separate bowl, mix together the dry ingredients.
7. Add 1/2 of the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix. Add 1/2 of the Greek yogurt and mix. Repeat so all the dry ingredients and yogurt are incorporated.
8. Add 2 cups strawberries. Use a spatula to fold them gently into the batter.
9. Grease an 11x7 baking dish. Pour in the batter. Top with the remaining 1/2 c strawberries. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 c sugar.
10. Bake 35-45 minutes, until golden brown and set. Test by inserting a knife into the middle of the cake. If the knife comes out with a small amount of gooey batter on it, the cake is done (this isn't a traditional cake; it will continue to set as it cools).
11. Let cool in the baking dish for 30 minutes.
12. Serve with your favorite vanilla ice cream or homemade whipped cream!

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